Floatable swimming accessory



Sept. 15, 1970 Q. A. FENAR 3,528,116

FLOATABLE SWIMMING ACCESSORY Filed June 12, 1968 United States Patent 3,528,116 FLOATABLE SWIMMING ACCESSORY Olga A. Fenar, Burbank, Calif. (620 N. Wilcox L, Montebello, Calif. 90640) Filed June 12, 1968, Ser. No. 736,386 Int. Cl. B63c 9/10 US. Cl. 9-347 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A partially doughnut-shaped floating body made of plastic foam or similar material. In the vertical position, a saddle-type seat is provided at the top, and an inside foot rest is provided by the flat shape of the central opening.

The present invention relates to water sport, and more particularly, to a floating, body supporting, exercise device 'for recreation and exercise in the water.

Many floating acquatic toys and recreational articles have been made and used in the past to support a person in the water, but they are relatively complex specialized devices which tend to become too large, heavy and expensive, for example, having many components, and which are generally suitable for a single main use only.

It is an object of this invention to provide a very simple, light weight and rugged article of the above-described nature for use as a swimming pool accessory, which is capable of use in a number of ways, and which requires no assembly, inflation, or upkeep.

Briefly, my invention comprises a somewhat oblong floating body, one of the long sides being depressed to form a seat at the top. A central opening in the body is preferably provided, and such opening may have a flat lower surface for use as a foot rest. The bottom side, opposite the seat, is preferably flattened for preventing easy tumbling.

My invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description, and to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the exerciser article,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof, and

FIG. 3 is a typical sectional view taken as indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present water exercise device comprises a body 1 having curved ends 2 and a central opening 4. An upper side 5 has a depressed shape forming a seat 6 between two lobes 7. The lobes 7 may have curved tops 9 as shown, or may have short flat tops as desired, but inclined surfaces 10 are provided in either case to give the seat 6 a sort of saddle shape.

A lower side 11 is preferably flattened off or otherwise shortened from a full circular form. The central opening 4 has a flat lower surface termed a foot rest 12, and concave curved ends 14, while the upper surface 15 is preferably convexly curved to give adequate strength to the seat structure as will be evident during the remaining description.

As shown in FIG. 3, the thickness T of the exerciser is approximately equal to, or a little less than, the section depth D, but can be varied as desired. Opposite side faces 13 of body 1 are flat and substantially parallel. All corners 16 are suitably rounded; however, the corner radii forming the edges of the seat 6 and the foot rest 12 should not be excessive since these two surfaces should have a substantially flat portion for comfort. The section depth D, or radial thickness of the body 1, remains generally constant all around the exerciser, except in the vicinity of the lobes 7, where it is greater for strength.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the ends 2 have a common center of curvature, and this center is on the upper surface 15 of the opening 4, but this is not a necessary construction.

The material is preferably a closed-cell foamed plastic such as Styrofoam, suitable for substantial buoyant force on a person using the exercise in a swimming pool, for example. It may be made in various densities.

The exercise is especially designed for use in a vertical position, and it is seen that a person may sit straddling the seat 6 in the water, while keeping balance and/or propelling himself with his arms and hands on or in the water. The flattened lower side 11 aids in maintaining the device from rolling endwise. The lobes 7 also obviously aid in maintaining the exerciser in place when sitting on it.

Instead of sitting, the user may place a foot or both feet on the foot rest 12, from the same side, and stand in the water, again while operating his arms to maintain balance. Other water sport uses will also suggest themselves to the users, such as a body support with the device horizontally positioned, and as an aid for a person learning to swim. However, the particular novel features and shapes permitting its vertical or upright use are considered to be the most unique. The central opening 4 also permits convenient holding by the hands.

This article can obviously be made in various sizes, buoyancy of construction, and relative dimensions to accommodate a range of weights from small children to heavy adults.

Thus it is seen that the present invention provides a water sport article and swimming accessory having a variety of uses in new ways, and fulfills a need for a cheap, rugged and simple device of this nature. Although preferably composed of a foamed plastic, it could also be of various other suitable materials, either solid or hollow, including wood, rubber, cork and the like.

Although the opening 4 has been referred to as being a central opening, it will be understood that this opening is actually lower than the geometric center of the overall body 1.

What is claimed is:

1. A water sports device comprising a generally doughnut shaped, rigid floating body with a substantially central opening, said body when in a vertical position having a depressed top side forming a saddle-like seat for the human body and being symmetrical about a vertical centerline, said seat having a partially flat upper surface bounded at the front and rear by upstanding lobes merging into the respective ends of said body.

2. A water sports device comprising a generally doughnut shaped, rigid fioating body with a substantially central opening, said body when in a vertical position having a depressed top side forming a saddle-like seat for the human body and being symmetrical about a vertical center line, said opening being positioned nearer the bottom of said body than it is from the top and having a substantially flat lower surface, end surfaces diverging upwardly, and curved upper surface with ends higher than the center thereof.

3. A water sports device comprising a body of rigid floating material; said body being somewhat doughnut shaped and having, when in a vertical position, substantially arcuate ends, a depressed top side having a substantially flat saddle-like seat portion with raised end lobes merging with said ends, a substantially flattened bottom side, and a generally central opening, said body being symmetrical about a vertical center line; said opening having a substantially flat lower surface, and the bound- 3 4 aries of said opening providing a substantially constant 3,092,858 6/1963 Wallach 9--348 radial thickness of said body. 3,102,280 9/ 1963 Williams 93 48 References Cited MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 J. E. PITTENGER, Assistant Examiner 1,422,657 7/1922 Broady 9-311 3,372,412 3/1968 Robertson 9-311 46 91 2,665,519 1/1954 Burkes 46-92 X 

